Assistant Attorney General – Social & Health Services Division Seattle

All employees and volunteers of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office serve a crucial role in the protection of the state, its people and resources, thereby providing a degree of job satisfaction that is incomparable. The AGO is composed of diverse, collegial and supremely talented legal professionals who are resolute in their commitment to public service and share the common goal of advancing the public interest. For more information about the AGO, we encourage you to review the Office’s Annual Report which can be found
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• A competitive benefit package that includes affordable medical plan options, dental benefits and retirement plans
• Vacation Leave, Sick Leave, Military and Civil Leave and Paid Holidays
• Transparent salary schedule – AAG salaries are set between $71,652 and $134,208. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA
• Flex schedules and telecommuting options
• A formal AAG mentoring program that complements the AGO’s inherently collegial and supportive environment
• Health and wellness program
• Training and career development program that is recognized for its excellence and efficacy by AGOs nationwide

The
Seattle Social and Health Services (SHS) Division
of the WA State Attorney General’s Office has an opening for an Assistant Attorney General.

The SHS Division consists of 35 attorneys and 35 support staff. The division provides legal representation to the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in King County. The primary client agency for this position is the Washington State DCYF, which files dependency and termination of parental rights cases arising from allegations of child abuse and neglect by the child’s parent, guardian or custodian. The division also handles litigation related to licensed facilities, including foster homes, child care facilities and adult family homes; cases involving the protection of vulnerable adults; and appeals of both juvenile and non-juvenile cases.

Are you looking for the opportunity to get into the courtroom (primarily virtual appearances) right away? Not many legal jobs provide the chance to argue in the courtroom within days of starting. If you want to learn trial skills, tackle novel legal concepts, and interact regularly with clients, all while helping Washington’s most vulnerable population then you are applying to the right place. Our cases and our work are never boring.

The primary assignment for this position is juvenile litigation. The work can be demanding and fast paced, but is highly rewarding with a very collegial group of colleagues. Each attorney handles their own caseload with a large amount of independent decision-making with guidance from their Team Leader.

This includes the following litigation opportunities:

• 
  Handling all stages of a dependency or parental termination caseload from reviewing and filing the petition through mediation, settlement, and/or trial.
• Motions practice in dependency review status cases
• Case-specific client advice
• Civil litigation discovery
• Frequent courtroom appearances
• Consistent opportunities to First Chair trials within months of starting in the Division

A typical week includes attorney-of-the-day coverage on juvenile court calendars, reviewing discovery, interviewing witnesses and preparing for trial, writing/ responding to motions, reviewing petitions prior to filing, negotiating with opposing counsel, drafting proposed orders and providing case-specific advice to client agency social workers.

The position is located in downtown Seattle, WA and most employees work a hybrid schedule with both in-office and telecommute days each week. Court appearances are in downtown Seattle, the Central Area of Seattle and Kent. Calendar appearances and trials are currently being conducted in a hybrid manner, with both in-person and remote appearance options.

The work of the division is of critical importance, and division members rely on and support each other. We are always interested in candidates from different cultures and life experiences that bring value to our office. Division staff, all of whom are talented, dedicated, compassionate and highly collegial, serve an essential role in the protection of the state’s most vulnerable people.

In addition to meeting the requirements to serve as an Assistant Attorney General, qualified applicants should have the following:

• Strong writing and oral advocacy skills;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment; and
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills and ability to deal with people of diverse backgrounds with respect and professionalism.
• Litigation/ courtroom experience is a plus.

Applicants must have graduated from a law school accredited by the ABA or completed the WSBA’s Rule 6 Law Clerk Program and be licensed to practice law in Washington State. (Applicants who meet the other stated qualifications and are
actively pursuing admission will also be considered.) The AGO seeks applicants who are committed to public service as demonstrated by an applicant’s background, talents, attitude, and enthusiasm for public law practice. The AGO greatly encourages, celebrates and values diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfill its mission of providing excellent, independent and ethical legal services to the State of Washington and protecting the rights of its people.

Per AGO Policy, employees and volunteers of the AGO must be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen.
Effective 14, 2022, the AGO announced pursuant to its policy, that employees and volunteers must also receive a booster shot as a condition of employment.
Employees or volunteers who are not eligible to receive the booster before their start date, due to required waiting times after receiving their initial vaccine(s), must provide confirmation of the vaccine type and date received so the AGO can calculate the date by which they must receive the booster. If you are selected to serve within the AGO as an employee or volunteer, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination and booster (if already received) before you are able to begin work. You request an accommodation if you are unable to meet the requirement due to a medical or religious necessity.

This Assistant Attorney General position is represented by the Association of Washington Assistant Attorneys General (AWAAG) / Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) AFSCME Council 28, AFL-CIO. AAG salaries are set between $71,652 and $134,208. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA. The position’s location is King County and thus the person hired would be eligible for 5% King County Assignment pay per legislative action. A competitive state benefits package is also offered which includes a choice of medical/dental insurance plans, retirement, life and basic long-term disability insurance. In addition, there are non-financial benefits that include working in a collaborative and supportive work environment where professional development and work-life balance are highly valued. The health, safety and professional satisfaction of all AGO staff and volunteers is critical to fulfilling the mission of the AGO to provide exceptional legal services. Complementing and fostering this goal is a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, as evidenced in the AGO’s environmental policies.

Interested applicants must apply by hitting the “apply” button above. In addition to the on-line application, one must upload, via the system and preferably as PDFs:

• A letter of interest;
• Resume;
• Law school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable); and
• Writing sample.

If you have questions about this position and/or want to learn more about it before applying, please contact Division Chief Mary Li at [email protected] or 206-464-5417. The deadline to apply is 1, 2022.

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Honoring diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees and volunteers enjoy a respectful, safe and supportive working environment. Only by fostering the inclusion of people from all backgrounds, cultures and attributes, can AGO employees and volunteers achieve their fullest potential and best advance the goals and mission of the AGO.

The AGO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation/gender identity, age, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, retaliation or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format contact the recruitment team at [email protected]. Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington Relay Service at 1-800-676-3777 or www.washingtonrelay.com.